With a meh-rated World Series bumping X Factor and NBC comedies in repeat mode, The Big Bang Theory capitalized on an opportunity to geek out in the ratings department.

The CBS comedy gained 11 percent week-to-week to deliver its most-watched and highest-rated Thursday episode ever (drawing 14.93 million total viewers while scoring a robust 5.1 demo rating, based on final numbers).

That teed up new lead-out Rules of Engagement (11.5 million viewers/3.6 rating) for its most-watched and highest-rated fall premiere since 2007. (At last tally, the doomed How to Be a Gentleman delivered 7.6 mil/2.5 in the time slot).

Other shows notching increases include The CW’s The Secret Circle (2.11 mil/0.9), which was up some 13 percent week-to-week (leading out of a flat Vampire Diaries, 2.9 mil/1.4).

Elsewhere on the night:

* Fox’s coverage of World Series Game 2 averaged 12.9 million total viewers and a 3.7 rating, down some 10 percent from Wednesday’s opener.

TBBT was at its best last night. I know they sometimes go overboard with Sheldon, but I thought delving into the relationship with his mother just shows how much he wants to be coddled, even though he’s ridiculously book smart and shuns such kind of affection from others. Someone of his genius only comes, once, maybe twice a generation…

Clarissa, I agree. Although I have watched TBBT since the beginning it has to help that it is now on TBS. I never watched NCIS until I started watching reruns on USA. Now I never miss it on Tuesday and I still watch all of the reruns.

TBBT was great! I was worried about missing Parks & Rec, but with a repeat, I didn’t feel guilty about watching Rules instead! Both were hilarious last night! At 9pm, I actually caught the secret circle for the first time since the pilot because the office was a repeat. It’s still too teeny-bopper for me, but probably a good fit for the CW demo.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Person of Interest. I hope it sticks around. I’ve had a major crush on Jim Caviezel since FREQUENCY and this is the first time he’s been a bad-ass. The best shows this fall are the returning GOOD WIFE, PSYCH and HAWAII FIVE-O. All are having great seasons.

I wish I could have seen TBBT last night. Comcast went out in my area for about 2 hours — starting during the airing of syndicated repeats of TBBT on MyPHL and kept on going. *grumble* I’m really hoping last night’s ep is loaded on OnDemand when I get home today! Love that show.

Am I the only one who is getting sick of TBBT it just feels stale to me, I loved the show for the first 3 seasons of so but I feel like nothing ever changes or gets better on the show. Like Community switches it up every week and always keeps things fresh- and I am not trying to bash TBB or anything I just felt like sharing

For me the addition of Amy and Bernadette is the problem with the show. If I wanted to watch a show about couples then I would watch Friends reruns or HIMYM. I liked the show a lot better when Penny was the only girl in the group, but I will say Leslie’s brief appearances always made me laugh. Last night’s episode felt like the show I love and not the show I only watch when bored. And the best part was hearing “Sofy Kitty”!

BBT was good last night. I laughed more last night than all this season. Which is saying something since this season has been very good. I like The Mentalist a lot, but wasn’t really excited for last night’s episode. I’ll watch it tonight and Person of Interest. I’m glad it’s doing well. :))

TVD and TSC were both amazing last night! Especially TSC, because it set itself up for an amazing arc this season and I can’t wait to see where it goes! I really recommend this show to all fans of TVD and those into witches and the supernatural. The show only gets better every episode, and what I loved about the episode “Wake” was that it really gave the show the push forward with a lot of possibilities.

I hope many more tune in next week for the Halloween episode. If anything goes to prove, vampires, witches, ghosts, werewolves, hybrids, witch hunters, AND more witches will make for an epic Thursday night next week. So please, tune in for TVD but definitely stay for The Secret Circle. It’s going to be wild!

Yeah, I think it started off meh, but the last two episodes have been awesome and this witch-hunter arc looks interesting. Plus, I love that the adults are getting some storyline action; I’m loving Natasha Henstridge, Gale Harold, and Ashley Crow.

I have loved TBBT from the beginning, but watching the occasional episode on TBS reminds me how much funnier it was in the early seasons. True, it was geekier then and maybe over the head of an “average” viewer, so now they’ve worked in some settled-ish relationships to appeal more to across the spectrum. Maybe that’s why it’s gone a little flat.
I think Kaley Cuoco is vastly underrated in this series, have come to appreciate her comic timing immensely.

I think TBBT is as funny as it was before: Lets face it, it would be unrealistic for those guys go through life without a relationship – even if geeks are “supposed” to die single – and their relationships are better than The Vampire Diaries/Secret Circle so therein lies the better rating IMO.

I’d have to agree. I used to Loves me some TBBT. But sadly, this season is leaving a lot to be desired. I actually think they should only do one more season…it pains me to say, but it’s getting to be about that time.

I’m 41 and Vampire Diaries is my favorite show on TV right now (and I have 3 DVRs & watch a lot of TV). My best friend is 61 and we spend hours talking about the show. It is fantasically written and acted and you don’t have to be “18 – 34″ to love it and get a lot out of it. The Secret Circle is leaning a little younger with it’s story lines but I think, with the same leaniage of TVD, it will evolve into a show any age can enjoy. Besides age is just a number! :)